Brassiere



Jan. 4, 1949. R. ETTLESON BRASSIERE Filed Aug. 3, 1946 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES-*PATENT oFFicE 2,457,989 mmssntim Ruth Ettleson, Chicago, Ill. Application August 3, 194s, serial No. 688,265 i s claims. (oi.- 2 42) This invention relates to improvements in womens garments and particularly to the type of garment known as a brassire.

The vogue for bare shouldered womens garments has created a great demand for brassires of the strapless type. Such brassires are known in the prior art but heretofore have not been satisfactory. Depending as they do on a body encircling belt to maintain them in place they not only distort the gure but bear uncomfortably and injuriously against the breasts. Furthermore, any stretching of the belt material loosens the garment and renders it unfit for further use.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a strapless brassire which avoids these and other undesirable features and which, Without undue stress, will retain the garment in its position on the body. I 4

A further object is to provide a brassire of the aforementioned type which is held in place by a single body encircling member and yet will support the breasts in an attractive and upright position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strapless brassire which does not bind or conne the breasts more than a brassire employing shoulder straps.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strapless brassire wherein by the act of fastenng the body encircling member, the cup portion is automatically shaped to conform to desired form.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following' speciilcation.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the improved garment partly broken away to show stiifening members in position.

Fig. 2 is a iront view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the shape assumed by the garment when Worn.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on line 4--4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The garment shown herein for the purpose of illustrating the present invention comprises a bust portion having a pair of breast receiving cups I u individually shaped to receive the breasts tape Il extending from the lower edge of the garment to the upper edge is stitched throughout its length to the garment by stitching I2 along each edge.

Connected to said bust portion either integrally or by stitching is a pair of side portions I3 of substantially triangular or trapezoidal shape the .major bases being at the outer edges of the cups I0, said side portions being reinforced by tapes I4 which also extend from the lower to the upper edge of the garment.

To the outer ends of side portions I3 is attached a body encircling belt I5 of any desired material carryingI hook I6 at one end, eyes Il at the other. The belt I5 encircles the body of the wearer below the breasts but above the waistline, the hook I6 and eyes` Il coacting to hold the garment in place and to insure a snug t.

The cups IIl are each formed of material cut on the bias and individually shaped to desired form. Extending from the bottom of each side of each cup and upwardly to the top center of each cup are pockets IBformed of fabric material and adapted to receive and enclose thin narrow of the wearer, connected together either integrally or by stitching and reinforced by tape II. The

ilexible stiiening members I9.

` When the stiffening .members I 9 are enclosed 4in the pockets I8 the cups I0 are formed in the shape of a Gothic arch as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Extending from the bottom center of each cup and upwardly to the top center of the Gothic arch formed by side stiffening member I9 is the medial pocket 20 likewise formed of fabric material and designed to receive and enclose the thin flexible stiffening member 2I which may be of much greater exibility and resiliency than the stiening members I9. While any type of very exible stiflening material may be used for the medial stiffening member, it has been found that the so-called spiral stay gives very satisfactory results.

The medial pockets 20 may be lightly tacked at the bottom or left open for easy withdrawal of the medial stiiening member 2| for such wearers who do not desire to use such stiiening members. It has been found that improved results are achieved by the present invention even if the media1 stays are not employed.

lIt is to be noted that the side pockets I8 follow the outer marginal edges of each cup and when the stiffening members I9 are enclosed in their pockets they follow the predetermined path outlined by said pockets with the'result that when the belt I5 is fastened around the body as intended, the garment is stretched, causing stays 3 i9 and 2| to bow and shape the cups I0 to conform to the breasts as shown in. Fig. 3.

The lower marginal edge of said garment contains no stifening members, is extremely flexible and hugs the body of the wearer; It may readily be seen that additional tension on the belt II and 'K the lower marginal edge of said garment such as is created by bending, etc., will cause greater tension and bowing of the stays I9, causing the cups i0 to be held more firmly and closely to the body. Thus the improved garment, although having no shoulder straps, will be held firmly and snugly overA the breasts even when the wearer thereof bends forwardly.

While the invention as illustrated shows side stiffening members I9 to b"of somewhat greater rigidity than the medial stiffening members 2l, stlffening members of the same degree of ilexibility or rigidity may be used without' changing the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Changes may be made in form and construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages and the right is hereby reserved to make all changes as fairly fall Within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A garment of the class described comprising a pair of breast-receiving cups, each of said cups having a pair of side stiffening members, said members being positioned at each side of each cup and extending upwardly and diagonally to a common point at the top center of each cup to form a Gothic arch. y

2. A garment of the class described comprising a pair of breast-receiving cups, each of said cups having a pair of marginal stiifening members, said members being positioned at each side of each cup and extending upwardly and diagonally to a common point at the top center -of each cup to form a Gothic arch, and a medial-stiffeningl member extending from the bottom center vof each cup to the top of the Gothic arch formed by the side stiffening members. l

3. A garment of the class described comprising a pair of breast-receiving cups, said cups being formed of material cut on the bias and shaped, Ipockets formed of fabric material extending upwardly and diagonally to each side of each cup, said pockets meeting at the top center. of each 35 the time the garment is worn.

cup, resilient side stifiening members secured in each pocket, said side stiifenin'g members forming-'a Gothic arch, said stiirening members -and shaped material combining to form said cups to a predetermined shape when the garment is worn.

4. A garment of the class described comprising a pair oi breast-receiving cups, said 'cups being formed of material cut on the bias and shaped, pockets formed of fabric material" extending up'- 10 wardly and diagonally to each side of each cup,

said pockets meeting at the top center of each cup, resilient side stiiening members secured in each pocket to shape said cups int'o the form of a Gothic arch, a fabric sheathed'medial stillen- 15- ing member extending from the bottom center of 20 a pair of breast-receiving cups, said cups being formed of material cut on the bias and shaped, pockets formed of fabric material extending upwardly and diagonally at each side of each cup, said pockets meeting at the top center. of each 5 cup, resilient side stiffening members secured' in each pocket, said members forming said cups into the shape of a Gothic arch, a, fabric sheathed medial stienlng member extending from the bottom center of each cup to the top of the Gothic 3g arch formed by the side stiening members, said RUTH ETI'LESON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th 4U le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Date 

